Maharashtra Assembly clears anti-conversion bill amid split in opposition
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act 2026 says that any conversion effected ‘by charm, coercion, deception, force, misrepresentation, threat, undue influence or fraud’ shall be null and void. It makes any such offense cognizable and non-bailable and provides for imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine of 1 lakh rupees for such illegal conversion.
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While speaking in the Assembly, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government is not against conversion, but is against ‘illegal conversion’. “This law is not against any religion, we just say no to forced conversion or luring. Similar laws have been passed in many states… We have made this law as per the Constitution,” Fadnavis said.
UBT Sena’s Bhaskar Jadhav supported the bill, claiming that electronic media ‘publishes stories as if they are targeting a particular religion’. “The bill does not name or target any religion; this does not mean that the bill benefits the Hindu religion. We have no reason to oppose it… We will not oppose it just for the sake of opposing it, so I believe this bill is extremely good,” Jadhav said.
However, he added that the UBT group had a problem with a provision in the bill that puts the burden on the person carrying out the conversion to prove that it was not done through any tempting or coercive means.
“The burden of proof to prove that one has not converted is an issue. Otherwise one should not be Sonam Wangchuk, who spent six months in jail and was not convicted. The person who alleges illegal conversion has to prove it with evidence,” Jadhav added. Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh alleged that the government did not use its mind while bringing the bill. “The bill states that notification must be given before conversion. If two adults decide to get married, then there will be pressure on them (to annul the marriage). We believe the bill will be misused against a community. Many commit suicide, many injustices are done,” Shaikh said. He requested that the bill be sent to the Joint Select Committee before it is passed.
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Jitendra Awhad of NCP (SP) said that they are not against the bill but they are against the intention behind the bill.
Samajwadi Party’s Rais Shaikh called the bill regressive and said it was ‘one-sided’. “This bill has created great discomfort among minorities in the state; it should be sent to the Joint Select Committee for suggestions and objections,” Shaikh said.
While UBT Sena broke ranks with MVA to support the bill, at least one MLA from NCP (SP) also broke ranks and supported the bill. Abhijit Patil, NCP (SP) MLA from Madha, also supported the bill.
The bill will now be discussed in the Parliament.
